Apparatus for plastically reproducing objects



Aug. 3 1926. 1,594,607

W. F. ENGELMANN APPARATU FOR PLASTICALLY REPRODUCING OBJECTS Filed June 8, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 3 1926. 1,594,607

W. F. ENGELMANN APPARATUS FOR PLASTICALLY REPRODUGING OBJECTS Filed June 8, 1922 2 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR My/lim fin/ Eye/mpg:

ATTORNEY amm 3.19255 UNITED STATES rATENr'orFic-E.

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arm-rue Ion 2mm: narnonucms earners.

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and 4 of the last mentioned application the- 1 tool which works out the copy is moved in two dimensions, in aplane, and one of the.

three dimensions of the object iseliminated from the operators consideration. With the apparatus illustrated-in Figs; 1 and 2 of this application the'tool is moved in one di vmension' only, along a line, and two of the three dimensions of the plastic object are eliminated from .the operators considera-- tion. Besides these apparatus move the vari- 2 ous planes of V the material block and the various film images of the form record auto matically .in' their respective working posi- Fi 1 and f the accompanying drawing s ow perspective views of two improved apparatus for workin out the copy; Fi 1 I for method A, and ig. 2 for method Each view has two o'rtions of the apparatiis showninsectiom ig. 3 shows a front view,

and Fig. 4"a' side view of a modification of a part of the apparatus;

. Th 'difierent forms of apparatusare presented with the purpose in view'of show.

'ing the 'rinci les of the vention as ciearly as ssi le.- o'particula attention has been paid to show the most suitable design; Referring .to Fig. 1 in detail, numeral 1 represents the material block having the copy partly worked out; 2, thetool for removing the excessive material from the material block; 3, means connecting the tool driving power with the tool; 4, the tracer disk; and 5, any kind of a devicefor transferring the movements 'ven the'tracer disk to the tool in any desi size, with means for {removably receiving the various tracer disks J and tools used. Numeral 6 represents a pro- 7 'jector,in construction'similar to a moving picture projector, with a'lamp and means 59 for holding and steggise shifting the film having the various images. In ppera-' .the screen'by the projector.

tion this projector is rotatedaround its optical axis. -Numeral7 repleesents a pinion that is part'of the film 'fting device of the pro ector. This pinion and with it the Elm shifting device receives its actuating movement from the pinion, being moved around ina circle by the rotating projector,

against 8, a stationary actuator. This actuator is rigidly fastened to 39, the 60 stand of the apparatus, and has its free end sha d to suit the teeth of the pinion. The

pin on strikes the actuator once during each projector revolution. Numeral 9 represents a ground glass or other suitable screenand 66 10 a film image enlarged and thrown upon Numeral 11 represents aturn table, which rotatesin operation, and which is equipped with a tail stock and, opposite the tail stock, a spindle 70 stock. The material block is held between l two centers, of which the one center is part 1 of the tail stock, and the other one part of the spindle of the opposing spindle stock.

.For each material block plane to be worked out the material block is rotated a very small amount between the two centers .by a train of gearing which is part of theg'turn table, and connected to the spindle of the spindle stock. The spindle stock, together with the .80 train. of gearin serve the same purpose as a, dividing hea' on amilling machine. The spindle of the spindle stock is moved in very small angulansteps; each revolution of the continuously rotating turn table causes the spindle to make one step; this takes place at the moment when thepinion 12, which is a member of the above-mentioned train of gearing and as such travels around with the turn table, strikes in its circular path the stationary actuator 13 fastened to the apparatus stand 39. The pinion receives therea very small rotating movement;- Thls pinion movement is transferred to the spindle and to the material block throughthe train ofcaring, which can be designed in many di erent ways. It is, illustrated by 14, a sprocket, which is fastened to the same shaft the pinion 12 is fastened to, and which together with the pinion 12 straddles the bearing of said shaft; 15, a shaft, that is connected to sprocket 14' by 16, another sprocket, and by 17, a chain; 18; a worm,

that is fastened to shaft 15, and that engages in 19, a worm wheel, which isfastened to 20, a shaft, to which is secured another worm that engages in 21, another worm wheel that is fastened to the spindle; 22, a face plate, that is also fastened to the spindle; and 23, a bent tail dog, which is clamped to the material block and has its bent tail reaching into a slot of the face plate; Numeral 24: represents a vertical shaft. Tothe upper end of this shaft is adjustably fastened the turn table; the lower end is connected to 25, a worm wheel by means of 26, a key. \Vhile the upper portion of this shaft is journaled in 27, an upper bearing, the lower end is journaled through the worm wheel 25 in 28, a footstep or thrust bearing. Numeral 29 represents a bearing similar to. bearing 28 in which is rotatably supported 30, a worm wheel, which has with its cooperating Worm 31 the same transmission ratio that the worm wheel 25 has with its cooperating worm 32. Bothworms are art of or are secured to 33, a horizontal s aft. Numeral 34 represents two bearings for this shaft. Numeral 35 is amotorfo'r rotating the shaft through 36, a motor pulley, 37, a belt, and 38, a frictionwheel. The design of this friction wheel is immaterial; as long as it serves its purpose, which is to allow the turntable and the projector to be held stationary by hand,

without stopping the motor, when it is desired to spend a comparatively longer time in finishing a more complicated portion of a plane outline. To this end the coefiicient of friction between the driving member and the driven member of the friction wheel must be comparatively small.

The running motor rotates the horizontal shaft, which in turn slowly revolves through the worms 31 and 32 and the worm wheels 30 and 25 the vertical shaft, with turn table and material block, and also the projector with the film images of the form record. As

the two worm and worm wheel sets have the same transmission ratio, the material block and the pro ected film image rotate in synchronism. At a fixed moment during the revolution of the turn table the pinion 12 comes in contact with its cooperating actuator, which causes the pinion to make a slight rotary movement. The gearing of the rotating and arresting device is so designed that the material block is caused to move the same angular amount about which the cover withlight and camera is moved around the object between the taking of two successive pictures when recording'the form of the ob- ;zect. a similar way the projector pinion coming in contact with its actuator during the revolution. of the projector receives a slight rotarymov'ement, which results in. M new film image J "posrtion and projected upon the screen. The

being moved in working effect is that with each revolution of t e two worm wheels a new material block p ane is moved into the working plane of the tool and a new film image projected upon .the screen. L

Moving the tracer disk on the screen in such a way back and forth in a line that one point of the periphery of the tracer disk always touches the periphery of the slowly revolving film image, causes the quickly roitating and independently driven tool to work out in the plane of the material block'an outand tool is preferably of a pantograph design, as such a device also allows the tracer disk and tool to be moved in any desired direction.

.For making reproductions of different sizes three changes havelto be made on the apparatus: The pantogra'ph must be reset, the cutter must be replaced by a new one which has its diameter in correct proportion to the diameter of the tracer disk used, and the vertical distance from the working plane of the cutter to the line connecting the two centers between which the material block is held must be changed. When, for instance, a reproduction of natural size is desired, the'pantograph must be set to trans fer the movements given the. tracer disk to the cutter in full size; a cutter must be inserted into the cutter chuclrthat has the same diameter as the tracer disk;'and the vertical distance from the working plane of the cutter to the line connecting the two into the cutter chuck that has a diameter of only one quarter the size of the tracer disk diameter, and the vertical distance from the working plane of the cutter to-the line connecting the two centers must be changed to equal only one quarter the distance from the plane through the edge of the shade of the form recording apparatus to the center of the rotatin ring of said apparatus. These values are ased upon the assumption that the film ima es on the screen are ,enlarged to natural size; ifthey are enlarged to a difierent size, or if other sizes of reproductions are desired, the given values have to be changed accordingly. Depending upon the design the vertical distance between the working plane of the tool and the line connecting the two'ce'nters may be changed by either inserting a chunk of different length for holding the various tools used, or'by raising or lowering the whole turn table with the actuator as aunit, or by raising or lowering the rotating and arresting device of the material block alone without changing the positions. of the pinion with pinion shaft and the s 7 No means for etf dcting such raising or.lowering is shown, this being easily. accomplished as will be readily understood by those versed in the art. V 7

'Referring to Fig 2'. in detail, numeral 40 represents the material block havin the copy partly worked out; 41, the too for removing the excessive material from the material block; 42, the tracer disk; 43, means for actuating the tool .and- 44, any kind of mechanical device for transferring the movements given the tracer disk to the tool in any desired ratio,-which device'is shown as a 'pantograph with three of its arms slotted and provided with bolts, nuts and washers, and the tool spindle and the tracer disk spindle held in'brackets that are ad-- justably fastened to-their respective pantograph arms, so as to-allow the relative ositions of the various fulcrums controlling the ratio between the movements of ,the.

by the rotating projector box bringing with.

each rotation the pinion in its circular path once against 48, a stationary actuator. This oppose each other.

actuator is fastened to 73, the apparatus stand, and has its free end shapedto fit the teeth of the inion. Numeral 49 represents a groun glass or; other suitable screen,- and 50 a film image, enlarged and projected upon the screen. Numeral 51 represents a continuously rotating turn tablewhich is equipped with two tail stocks that The material block is held between thecenters of the tail stocks posite the index pin and pushing and prevented from rotating by an index plate, that is clampedto the material block,

and that cooperates with anindex pin slidably held in one of the tail stocks. The

index plate has a' number of holes arran ed in a circle, into which the index in ts. By bringing a hole of the index ate op the index rocket belonging theretocated into this hole, the material block can in be held in various ositions. This becomes necessary when wor '11 out the various sections of the material lock.. Numeral 52 represents a vertical shaft. To the extreme,

upper end of this shaft is adjustably fas tened the turn table, and to the'extremelow- .tatably supported in 55, a bearing; the upper portion of the vertical shaft is journaled in 56, a bearing. Numeral 57 representsa bearing in which is rotatably supported 58,

.80 a worm wheel that has with its cooperating worm 59 the same transmission ratio that the worm wheel 53 has with its cooperating worm 60. -Both worms are secured to or are part of- 61, a horizontal shaft. This shaft is gournaled in 62, two bearings and is rotate either clockwise or.counter clbckwise by 63, the apparatus driving mecha nism. The; design of this driving mecha-' nism and the kind of power used for it is immaterial, as long as said'mechanism allows the direction in which the various parts of the apparatus are;' driven to bereversed; This apparatus drivin mechanism is indibya motor wit clutch and motor pulley, two belts, one loose and one tight ulley attached to shaft 61, arid reverse evers 63with shifting fork, etc. Numeral 64 represents .a friction wheel, which forms the-connecting link between the apparatus driving mechanism and the horizontal shaft 61. Its function is to allow the turn table and the projector to be held stationary without stopping the apparatus driving mechanism, when it is desired to spend a lon er time on .a complicated .plane'outline. ecured to the horizontal shaft is 65, a s rock- (it, which through 66, a chain and 6 ani I other sprocket drives 68, a worm journaled in 69, two bearin s. This worm enga es from moving longitudinally by 72, a washer secured to the worm wheel. The center hole of this worm wheel is threaded and engages the threaded portion of the vertical shaft. In the same way as .in the previously described apparatus the running motor slowly revolves the material block with its (corresponding film image in synchronism, and "also automatically. changesthe film images during the short time the pinion is in con-j tact withits actuator. The changes in the planes of the material block are also automatically made. steadily-during the revolving of the turn table. They result fr These changes take place '1n70,' a w'orm w eel which is rotata ly mounted in '71, a bearing and prevented bythe faster running lower worm wheel ,3 v

gradually screwin the threaded portion of the shaft into the t readed center hole of the slower runnin upper worm wheel. If the speed with w ich both worm wheels were driven were alike, the vertical shaft would simply revolve without undergoing any longitudinal displacement whatsoever. As soon as the s eed of the upper worm wheel lags behind t e speed of the lower one, the faster running lower worm wheel screws the threaded shaft into the threaded worm wheel, which raises-the shaft, turn table, and the material block. The amount that the shaft is raised during a revolution depends upon the speed difference existing between the upper and lower worm wheels. This speed difierence is easily controlled by the number of teeth in sprocket 65 or sprocket 67, or by the transmission ratio of the upper worm and worm wheel. For a full sized copy the apparatus possesses the correct amount of shaft displacement, when the image is enlarged to full size, and the amount of lead belonging to the angle that the upper worm wheel lags behind the lower one.

during one revolution equals the amount that the cover was moved between the taking of two successive pictures during the form re-' cording.- For other copy sizes or for basreliefs the apparatus has to be adjusted accordingly. The turn table isbrought back to its starting position by pulling outthe reverse lever and letting the motor drive the apparatus in opposite direction.

he apparatus illustrated in. Fig. 2 may also be used to great advantage in carving out molds. For this purpose the tracer disk has to be moved inside the projected film image, and the lane having the largest area must be worked out first.

To obtain more accurate copies and to facilitate keeping the periphery of the tracer disk in touch with the periphery of the film image, the film image may be enlarged to such a large size that only a part of it will be visible on the screen.

The use of tracer disks and tools of different diameters is not necessary when the de'- vice for transferring the movements given the tracing member to the tool is provided with a tracer pin which tapers out to a point, and a conical endmill which also tapers out to a oint. The conical endmill must be so ositioned and held in the mentioned device 1n relation to" the tracer pin point that its given movements are transferred to the point "of the'rotating conical endmill. To reach conveniently into the smallest irregularities of the copy, the means for holding the endmill is preferably made adjustable, to allow the axis .of the rotating endmill to be inclined more or less as desired. Using a tracer -pin in connection with a conicalendmill re uires the tracer pin point to be moved along iihe periphery of theenlarged film not image for a perfect duplication of the film image outline on the material block.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate one way of makin the means for holding the conical endmil adjustable, so as to allow the axis of the conical endmill to be inclined'to facilitate the carvingout a complicated copy. In these figures numeral 74 represents a spindle housing, holding the cutter spindle; 75, a conical endmill held'in the spindle; 76, a flexible shaft for driving the spindle with the endmill; 77 ,two circular slots cut into the flange of the spindle housing, which in connection with 78, two bolts with washers and nuts, allow the spindle housing withspindle and endmill to be tilted and tightened in the desired position to 79, a flanged bracket. This flanged bracket is provided with 80, an oblong slot, which to ether with 81, a bolt with a nut and a washer, permits the flanged bracket to be adjustably held on 82, the ex treme toolend of the device for transferring the movements given the tracer disk to the cutting tool.

When making very small sized copies, intended for jewelry purposes for instance, it is not necessary to use a projector for enlargingand projecting the film images of the form record upon a screen, as thefilm images themselves may be used as guides when directing the tracer disk or tracer pin in its movements.

To make a copy {ield to milling, but requires other materia removing operations, the kind of tool,

the means for actuating and for holding the tool must be chosen accordingly.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an apparatus of the character described'the combination of a material block holder, a film containing images of.the form record, a suitable device with one end of it removably holding the tracer disk, and the other end the tool for transferring the movements given the tracer disk to the tool; and means for revolving material block and film image in synchronism. A V

2. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a holder for a material block, a film containing imagesof the form record, each image corresponding to one ofthevarious planes in which the copy is to be worked out means for holding the form record and material block and moving each film image with its corresponding plane of the material block 1n work ng position a device; a tracer disk and a too 'removably held/in said devlce, said device transferring the movements given the tracer of a material which does disk to the tool; and means for revolving the chronism.

scribed the combination of a tracer disk and a tool a device rempvably holding said disk and tool and transferring the movements 'ven the tracer disk to the tool; means for olding the'material block and movin the various planes to be worked out in wor ing position; means for holding the form record and moving the various film images in workmg position; and means for revolving the material block and film image in syn- 4; In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a tracer disk and a tool a device removably holding said disk and tool and transferring the movements given 'the tracer .disk to the tool; optical means for enlarging the various film images of the iorm record and throwin them upon w screen; means for holding t a material block and noving. the various planes to be worked out in workingposition; means for holding the. form record and moving the vaand tool and transferring the movements given the, tracer disk to the tool; opticalmeans for-enlarging the various film images and throwing them upon a screen; means for holding the material block and moving the various planes to be worked out in work- .ing position; means for holding the form record and moving the various film images in working position; means for changing the distance between material block and working plane of tool; and means for revolving the material block and film image in synchronism.

'6. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a tracer disk and a tool a device removably holding said disk and tool. and transferring the movements given the tracer disk to the tool; means for holding the material block; means for holding the form record and moving the various film images in working position; and means for revolving the material block and film image in synchronism and gradually changing the working planes of the material block.

. 7. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a tracer disk and a tool a device removably holding said disk and tool and transferring the movements" given the tracer disk to the .tool: means as holding the 'material block and gradually moving the various planes of the material block workingposition; means-for hold ing the form record and moving. the various images in working position; and e ns "for revolving the material block image in synchronism. l

8. In an apparatus of the. character described the combination of a device for holding the material block and movin the various planes of the block. in wor ing position(i with a device for holdingthe form recor and moving the various film images in working position, and means connectm both devices for causing a material block plane and a film image to be moved simultaneously.

9. In an apparatus of the character de scribed the combination of means for supporting a film having a series of film ima es of the object to be reproduced; a device or supporting a material block; meansfor actua'ting said supp v to cause the m and the block to be shifted and rotated; and means holding at one end a tracer and at the other end a material removing tool for transferring the movements given said tracerto said tool.

10. In an apparatus of the character described'the combination of means for supporting a film, having a seriesof film images of the object to be reproduced and projectingeach image upon a screen; a device v for supporting a material blockameans for simultaneously rotating and shifting a film image and a corresponding material block plane; and means for gearing a tracer adapted to follow the outline of thefilm image to the material removing tool acting on the material block. L

11. Inan apparatus of the character described the combination of means for sup porting a film having a series of film images of theobject to be reproduced and for projectin the images upon a screen; a device for ho ding the material block and shifting the various material block planes in working position; means for rotating said supporting 0 means'andsaid device; a tracer adapted to follow the outline of the projected image; a materiakremoving tool to act on the material block; and means for gearing said 7 strac'er to said tool.

1 2. In an apparatus of the character descrlbed the combination of means for sup porting a film having a series of film images of the object to be reproduced and for projecting the images upon a screen; a device for supporting the material block; means for actuating said supporting means said-device to cause thefilm image and block to-be rotated in synchronism; means for changing the distance between material removing tool and material block foreach new image projected;'and a suitable device,

holding at one end a tracer and at the other;

end the material removing tool, for transferring the movements given said tracer to said 'tool. I

, 13. In an apparatus of the character .de-

' scribed the combination of means for supporting a film having a series of film images of theobject to be reproduced and for pro- 130 orting means and said'device v 1. tie

jecting the ima es upon a screen; a device for supporting t e material block; means for actuatmg said supporting means and said device to cause the film image and the block 5 to be rotated in synchronism; means for changing the plane in which .the material block is worked out for each new image projected; and a suitable device, holding at one end the tracer and at the other end the material removing tool for transferring the movements given said tracer to said tool.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM FRED ENGELMANN. 

